He took a deep breath. Panic wouldn't help. He had to act.
Nyx looked at the Return Stone in his hand. He could simply activate it and escape this place, avoiding any potential danger.
But… he gripped the stone tighter."If I run now, I won't learn anything," he muttered to himself.
His eyes sparkled with determination. Yes, the dungeon turned out to be more difficult than he had expected, but this was a challenge. A chance to test himself, learn new skills, and maybe even find something valuable.
Nyx put the Return Stone back into his inventory and took a deep breath. If things got too dangerous, he could always use it and leave.
But for now… he hadn't reached his limit.
Nyx quickly checked his gear. Assassin's Dagger, Sharpened Combat Knife, Goblin's Battle Axe… Everything was in place. Shadow, sensing his master's tension, crouched lower to the ground, growling toward the tunnel.
The footsteps were getting louder. Judging by the sounds, there were several of them.
Nyx took a step back, weighing his options. A fight was inevitable, but could he use the terrain to his advantage?
"Shadow, stay close," he ordered quietly, gripping his weapon tighter.
Silhouettes emerged from the darkness of the tunnel.
Three goblins burst out — two with crooked sabers, the third with a bow. They spotted Nyx instantly, and the archer immediately drew his string.
"Shadow, take cover!" Nyx shouted.
The wolf darted to the side, vanishing behind a stone outcrop, while Nyx dove forward, dodging the arrow that whistled past and buried itself in the ground.
The saber-wielding goblins charged. The first slash missed — Nyx had sidestepped just in time — then met the second blow with his dagger. Metal clashed with metal, but Nyx had the upper hand. He twisted his arm, breaking the enemy's guard, and drove the blade into its throat.
[Critical Hit!]
The second goblin screamed in fury, swinging his saber, but in that moment, from the shadows, Shadow lunged. The wolf's fangs sank into the goblin's leg, and he squealed.
Nyx didn't miss the opportunity — a quick strike, and his knife plunged into the enemy's chest.
Only the archer was left. He took a step back, clearly planning to flee, but Nyx had already thrown his dagger.
[You killed the Goblin Archer! Experience +60][You killed the Goblin Raider! Experience +55][You killed the Goblin Raider! Experience +55][Experience: 410/600]
Silence.
Nyx took a breath and looked at Shadow. The wolf nodded, as if confirming that everything was fine.
"Good job," Nyx said briefly, then began searching the bodies.
Nyx quickly examined the goblins' bodies. In one's pocket, he found several silver coins, another had a small pouch of dried meat, and the archer carried a set of arrows and an old but sturdy bow.[You received: 8 silver coins.][You received: Dried meat.][You received: 6 arrows.]
Nyx silently inspected the finds. The silver coins disappeared into his inventory, the meat went into his food supply, and the arrows were added to his inventory.
The bow... — a thought flashed through his mind. In close combat, he felt confident, but every time he had to close in on an enemy, he risked taking a hit. Especially in a dungeon, where there were many enemies, and not always a chance to control the space.
If I train, I could eliminate enemies before they get close. Or at least wound them.
Nyx thought for a moment.Right now, the bow was just a tool. But if I learn to use it like a dagger... that would be an advantage.
He glanced at Shadow. The wolf was watching him closely, as if evaluating his master's decision.
"I think it's worth a try," Nyx said quietly.
Nyx opened his inventory and took out the bow. The weapon felt a little rough but sturdy. He ran his fingers along the shaft, checking the balance, then carefully pulled back the string.
The bow wasn't perfect, but it would do for now.
He pulled out one of the arrows, nocked it, and aimed it at the far corner of the room. His fingers trembled slightly from the tension, but he focused.
"I wonder…" he muttered. "Does the throwing skill work with a bow?"
He took a deep breath and released the string. The arrow shot off, but veered slightly to the side, embedding itself in the stone.
[System message: "Throwing" skill is not active when using a bow.][A separate skill, "Archery," is required for effective use of the bow.]
Nyx grimaced."Of course. It would be too easy…"
He ran his fingers along the string. So, the bow was a different matter. If he wanted to use it effectively, he would have to learn from scratch.
"Well, let's see how difficult this is…" he muttered, taking a second test shot.
The arrow flew off the string but went wide, striking the stone wall. Nyx frowned in dissatisfaction.
"Hm… Not as easy as it looks."
He ran his fingers over the string, checking the tension, and tried to remember how he'd seen others shoot a bow. Elbow slightly raised, shoulders relaxed, breathing steady...
The third attempt. The arrow flew straighter, but still veered off course.
"Got it. I need to practice."
He drew another arrow. Inhale. Tension on the string. Exhale. Release. Miss.
Fourth, fifth, sixth... With each shot, the arrow landed closer, but still not where he wanted. Nyx didn't give up. He adjusted his stance, leveled his breathing, listened to the sensations in his fingers and shoulders.
"Ninth…" he said aloud, already feeling the fatigue in his fingers.Click. Miss.
"Tenth…"He bit his lip, focusing. The bow shook a little less. Everything was... almost right.
"Twelfth."
Nyx held his breath. All his concentration was focused on the target — a torch faintly glowing on the distant wall. He released the string.The arrow flew straight, striking the base of the torch and knocking it to the floor. Sparks scattered in all directions.
"Yes!" he exhaled.
Nyx walked over to the fallen torch, picked it up, and placed it back into its holder.He pulled the remaining arrows from his inventory and took his position again. He wanted to make sure the hit wasn't just a fluke.
Nyx held his breath. The world seemed to quiet — it was just him, the bow, and the target.He smoothly drew the string, focusing on the next torch, which hung a bit farther along the wall.
"Calmly…" he whispered to himself.
He shot.The arrow was released with a soft whistle, flying forward. This time — almost no deviation. It struck the lower part of the torch, causing it to shake, but it didn't fall.
Nyx smiled faintly."Almost perfect. Getting better each time."
He lowered the bow and ran his fingers along the shaft, feeling the familiar warmth of mana. A thought crossed his mind — what if he tried enhancing the arrow using Mana Control?
"Hm… I wonder what would happen if I put some power into it?"
Nyx closed his eyes for a couple of seconds, focusing. He took a slow breath, activating Mana Control.[Skill Activated: Mana Control](Manipulating the flow of energy... Connecting to the weapon...)
He felt a subtle vibration run through his hand, slide through his fingers, and sink into the bow. Then, he nocked an arrow and focused, letting the mana flow into its shaft.A faint blue glow surrounded the arrow, like a pulsing outline of energy.
"Well then… let's see."
He lifted the bow again, aimed a bit higher than usual, and shot.
The arrow blazed in flight, cutting through the air with a light ringing sound, and struck directly in the center of the torch. There was a sharp pop — the flame extinguished, and the arrow shattered from the impact.
"Now that's more like it," Nyx muttered, lowering his weapon. "If I practice… this could be a serious advantage."
"It's time to move on. This dungeon is getting more dangerous with every minute…"Nyx stowed the bow behind his back, realizing that, for now, he couldn't compete with an experienced archer. But if he learned... it would open up more options.
Nyx thought for a moment. Right now, the bow was more of a backup, but if he mastered it, he could hit enemies from a distance, without engaging in close combat.Shadow watched him, tilting his head as if trying to understand what his master was doing.
"Well, let's train as we go," Nyx muttered, putting the bow back in his inventory.He turned his gaze toward the tunnel from which the goblins had come. Ahead, there might be their camp or, worse, their leader.
Moving cautiously forward, Nyx scanned the area and soon noticed a faint glow ahead. He muffled his steps, pressing against the wall.In the center — a campfire, around which sat goblins. Three regular fighters, one archer… and someone larger, judging by the silhouette.
"Shadow, stay in the shadows and wait for the signal," Nyx whispered.He checked his weapons and planned the attack. The battle axe was powerful, but it could give away his position, the dagger allowed for faster strikes… And the bow? This was a chance to test the new weapon in a real fight.
Nyx drew the bow, slowly pulling back the string, picking his first target.He squinted, activating [Scanner].
[Goblin Shaman (Rare)]
Level: 4
HP: 180/180
MP: 250/250
Skill:🔥 Elemental Magic (Fire, Darkness)Can cast offensive spells using fire and dark energy. Includes direct damage and area effects.
🛡 Ally EnhancementTemporarily boosts the strength, defense, or agility of nearby allies during combat.
☠ Curse of WeaknessApplies a debuff that reduces the target's attack power and resistance for a short duration.
Nyx's eyes narrowed. A mage, and one with support spells. Such an enemy could buff the fighters, weaken him, and even attack from a distance. A dangerous opponent, especially surrounded by four other goblins.
"If given time, he'll turn this battle into a nightmare," Nyx thought.
First priority: eliminate the shaman. The question was—how?
An arrow to the head could solve the problem quickly… if it hit. Or he could go in close, but that would mean breaking through the others.
He took a deep breath. A decision had to be made now.
Nyx opened his stats window.[Stat Points: 7]
His gaze lingered on his attributes. Battles were getting tougher, enemies stronger. Improving his stats might give him a chance.
Distribution options:• Dexterity (12 → 14): Improves attack speed and evasion.
• Intelligence (16 → 18): Enhances magical power and mana control.
• Endurance (10 → 12): Increases HP and overall survivability.
Nyx considered. With a new enemy—a shaman—it made sense to raise Intelligence to enhance his magic and the [Mana Control] skill.
"If I can better control the flow of mana..." he muttered, allocating 2 points into Intelligence.[Intelligence: 16 → 18]
Warmth spread through his body, his mind sharpened, as if the magical currents around him became more tangible.
But he also needed speed. He invested 3 points into Dexterity.[Dexterity: 12 → 15]
His body felt lighter, muscles more responsive.
Time to test the skill. Nyx focused, activating [Mana Control]. Faint blue energy flickered around him. He could feel how to direct it into his weapon, boosting attack speed and power.
"This could work."
He slowly reached for his bow and felt how mana could be channeled through the shaft, increasing the durability and strength of the shot.
Now he had a plan. Charge the arrow with mana in secret and strike first. If he could hit the shaman, the battle would become much easier.
He took a deep breath. Time to act.
He raised his bow, making no sound.One breath—slow and steady.Second—calm.On the third, he drew the string.
Mana slowly flowed into the arrow, filling it with a faint, vibrating energy. The arrow trembled, like a wild beast about to pounce.
Target: the shaman.
With one motion, he opened his inventory and drew a new arrow. It instantly materialized in his hand—cold and perfectly balanced. He nocked it.
He took aim—released. Mana once again empowered the arrow, speeding its flight.
The shaman stood in the center of the group, swaying slightly as he chanted rhythmically. One well-placed shot—and the enemies' coordination could crumble.
Whistle.
The arrow flew, tracing an almost invisible arc. Its trajectory was perfect—boosted by mana and Nyx's cold precision.
Impact.
The shaman jerked, his head thrown back. The arrow embedded itself straight into his throat. He gurgled and collapsed, unable to utter a cry.
[Critical Hit!][You defeated Goblin Shaman (Lv. 4)!]
"Kyaaaak!" screamed one of the warriors, turning around.
Panic began to spread. Those relying on magical support lost confidence. Their formation faltered.
Nyx didn't wait.
With one motion, he opened his inventory and drew another arrow. It materialized instantly in his hand—cold and perfect. He nocked it immediately.
He had already spotted his next target—a goblin archer. The creature had just begun to draw his bow.
He aimed—released. Mana once again surged into the arrow, speeding it.
Direct hit to the chest.The archer flew back, tumbling across the ground, his bow flying from his hands.
[Critical Hit!][You defeated Goblin Archer (Lv. 2)!]
"One by one," Nyx said to himself, drawing another arrow."Before they figure it out..."
He targeted the nearest warrior, who was frantically scanning the area for threats.Another shot—fast and precise. The arrow pierced his shoulder, and he dropped with a cry.
But that drew attention.
"Kyaaaaak!" a scream echoed. One of the enemies had spotted movement in the shadows.
Several eyes turned toward Nyx.
Two goblin warriors with short blades charged toward him, stomping the ground, kicking up dust. One had a shield, the other—a crooked scimitar. Their movements were erratic but aggressive, like beasts sensing prey.
Nyx didn't run.
Calmly, without panic, he stowed his bow and pulled out his dagger—a light, sharp weapon fit for close combat.
The first goblin lunged, sword raised. Nyx sidestepped and thrust upward—his blade piercing beneath the goblin's jaw. The body gurgled and slumped.
[Hit to a Weak Spot!][You defeated Goblin Warrior (Lv. 2)!]
The second, with the scimitar, snarled and lunged from the side.
But out of the shadows burst a wolf—silent and lightning-fast. Its jaws locked onto the goblin's neck, dragging him down. One jerk—and silence.
Nyx straightened, scanning the area.
The wounded warrior screamed, clutching his arrowed shoulder, but didn't get a chance to rise—Nyx was already there. He closed in, raised his dagger, and drove it into the goblin's chest, ending it in one clean motion.
[You defeated Goblin Warrior (Lv. 2)!]
"Good boy," he said softly, and the wolf calmly retreated to his side.
[Gained 100 XP (Goblin Shaman Lv. 4)!][Gained 50 XP (Goblin Archer Lv. 2)!][Gained 50 XP (Goblin Warrior Lv. 2)!][Gained 50 XP (Goblin Warrior Lv. 2)!][XP: 660 / 600][Level Up: 4 → 5][XP: 60 / 800]
Nyx felt a wave of energy wash over him—warm and enveloping. In an instant, everything inside him felt cleaner, clearer. His wounds healed faster, his breathing evened, and his mind focused.
"Level five…" he whispered, a little light-headed from the new sensations."I'm growing fast. Or maybe… this dungeon really is great training."
Suddenly, a shop menu appeared before him, as if his subconscious summoned it. Lines glowed softly, invitingly:
[SYSTEM: Shop Unlocked!]
You now have access to the System Shop. Here you can:
📚 Buy skills
🧪 Purchase consumables (potions, scrolls, reagents)
🧤 Buy equipment
📦 Exchange loot for currency or upgrades
💡 To access the shop, use the command: [Open Shop]Or specify what you want: "Show skills", "Display equipment", "Buy potions", etc.
"Time to move on," he told himself. "But first..."
He took a deep breath and said aloud, firm and controlled:
"Open shop."